H.B. 181

1

ALLOCATION OF STATE HOSPITAL BEDS
2 2002 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Jack A. Seitz
5 This act amends the Human Services Code. The act amends the number of psychiatric and
6 geriatric beds at the state hospital allocated to local mental health authorities. The act
7 sunsets the reduced number on June 30, 2002 and requires the department to increase the
8 number of beds allocated during fiscal year 2003 as funding permits. The act has an
9 immediate effective date.
10 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
11 AMENDS:
12 62A-12-209.5, as last amended by Chapter 318, Laws of Utah 2000
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
14 Section 1. Section 62A-12-209.5 is amended to read:
15 62A-12-209.5. Allocation of state hospital beds -- Formula.
16 (1) As used in this section:
17 (a) "Adult beds" means the total number of patient beds located in the adult general
18 psychiatric unit and the geriatric unit at the state hospital, as determined by the superintendent of
19 the state hospital.
20 (b) "Mental health catchment area" means a county or group of counties governed by a
21 local mental health authority.
22 (2) (a) The board shall establish by rule a formula to separately allocate to local mental
23 health authorities adult beds for persons who meet the requirements of Subsection
24 62A-12-209 (2)(a). [On July 1, 1993, two hundred twelve] Beginning on the effective date of this
25 act and until June 30, 2002, one hundred eighty two beds shall be allocated to local mental health
26 authorities under this section. [That]
27 (b) The number of beds shall be reviewed and adjusted as necessary:

28 (i) on July 1, 2002, to restore the number of beds allocated to 212 beds as funding permits;
29 and
30 (ii) every three years thereafter according to the state's population.
31 (c) All population figures utilized shall reflect the most recent available population
32 estimates from the Utah Population Estimates Committee.
33 (3) The formula established under Subsection (2) [becomes effective on July 1, 1993, and]
34 shall provide for allocation of beds based on:
35 (a) the percentage of the state's adult population located within a mental health catchment
36 area; and
37 (b) a differential to compensate for the additional demand for hospital beds in mental
38 health catchment areas that are located in urban areas.
39 (4) A local mental health authority may sell or loan its allocation of beds to another local
40 mental health authority.
41 (5) The division shall allocate [212] adult beds at the state hospital to local mental health
42 authorities for their use in accordance with the formula established under this section. If a local
43 mental health authority is unable to access a bed allocated to it under [that] the formula established
44 under Subsection (2), the division shall provide that local mental health authority with funding
45 equal to the reasonable, average daily cost of an acute care bed purchased by the local mental
46 health authority.
47 (6) The board shall periodically review and make changes in the formula established under
48 Subsection (2) as necessary to accurately reflect changes in population.
49 Section 2. Effective date.
50 If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this act takes effect
51 upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
52 Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto, the
53 date of veto override.

Legislative Review Note
as of 1-24-02 11:52 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel